Jesus Is Scouraged and Crowned with Thorns

Pilate asked the crowd, " What am i to do with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?" They all shouted, "Crucify Him!" He said "Why? What crime He committed?" But they shouted even louder, "Crucify Him!"

After having Jesus scourged, Pilate delivered Him to be crucified. Then, the soldiers, weaving a crown of thorns, fixed it on His head, and stuck a reed in His right hand. Then, they began to mock Him by dropping to their knees before Him, saying, "hail, King of the Jews!"

Reflection.Think of Jesus, silently enduring the injury inflicted on Him and the mockery of the mad mob and Roman soldiers. Then think of the millions of exploited people suffering silently the oppressions done by the ruthless. What have we done-- what can we do to minimize blatant injustice

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

The high priest stood up before the court and interrogated Jesus: "Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered: "I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven." At that, the high priest tore His robes and said," What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They all concurred in the verdict guilty, with its sentence of death.
As soon as it was daybreak, the chief priest, with the elders and scribes, bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

Reflection. Think of the injustice done to Jesus by biased judges. Then think of the thousands of victims of injustice in whom Jesus continues to live and suffer. Do we, ourselves, contribute to the suffering of the weak, the defenseless and the voiceless of society?

Jesus Prays in Gethsemani

Jesus went out and made His way as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples accompanied Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "pray that you may not be put to the test." He withdrew from with them about a stone's throw, then went down on His knees and prayed in these words: "Father if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done." In His anguish, He prayed with even greater intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. Then He rose from prayer and came to His disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted with grief.

Reflection. Think of the loneliness of Jesus when not one of His disciples found the strength to keep Him company in His agony. Then think of the loneliness of those who have no friends, no home, no hope, no future. What resolve can we make to help these victims of neglect?

My Bible Words

Mt. Horeb- the mountain where God made Himself known to Moses. It is also known as Mt. Sinai.

Pharaoh- the title of the ruler of Ancient Egypt.

Jesus Institutes the Eucharist

The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and after He had given thanks, broke it and said,"This is My Body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way, after the supper, He took the cup, saying, "This is cup is the New Covenant in My Blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes!

Reflection. Think of the times we have failed to appreciate Jesus' gift of self and His loving presence in Eucharist. What can we do to respond to Jesus' sacrifice?